Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

WARSAW, 27 November 2006 - The OSCE Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief, an advisory panel of experts from different backgrounds and of various faiths from throughout the OSCE region, issued the following statement today:

"The OSCE Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief has been aware of the situation regarding the Hare Krishna community in Karasai District for some time and has been actively exploring the issues that it raises with a view to offering its opinion and, if necessary, recommendations in order to ensure that OSCE commitments concerning the Freedom of Religion or Belief are upheld.

"The Advisory Council has also been awaiting the report of the Special Commission established under the State Committee on Religion of the Ministry of Justice in September 2006 in the hope and expectation that this would offer a positive contribution to the resolution of the dispute.

"The Advisory Council has, therefore, been deeply concerned by the news that properties in the Karasai District in the possession of the Hare Krishna community have been destroyed and calls upon the Kazakh authorities to halt any further demolitions and to extend immediate humanitarian assistance to those whose homes have been destroyed pending the further exploration and resolution of the dispute concerning title to the properties in question.

"From the information available to the Advisory Council, it appears that state sponsored action has been focused upon members of the Hare Krishna community in a manner that suggests they have been targeted on the basis of their religious affiliation. In the view of the Advisory Council, this raises serious issues regarding the enjoyment of the freedom of religion and belief by members of the Hare Krishna community in Kazakhstan.

"The Advisory Council wishes to express its willingness to meet with the Kazakh authorities in order to discuss the situation and to extend its good offices to assist in the resolution of that dispute."